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How-To Geek

Were you upset when all access to the classic Downloads Manager Window was stripped out of the latest stable build of Firefox? Then you are definitely going to be pleased to learn about the new ‘Downloads Window’ extension. With this new extension, you can once again have access to, and enjoy that classic Downloads Manager Window goodness!

The extension only takes moments to install and does not require a browser restart, so hurry on over to add the extension to your browser now!

@NSDCars5 - When Firefox 26 was released, the "toolkit UI" about:config hack to access the old Downloads Manager Window was nullified. The only options left were to open the new combination library/downloads window or use about:downloads...neither of which were desirable...and do not even get me started on that idiotic downloads toolbar button option... >_<

I have happily embraced all the changes Mozilla has made to Firefox over the years, even the new Australis UI that is working its way towards being a part of the stable release channel. All the changes have not bothered me at all...until they took away that downloads manager window...now that DID upset me since I have always made such prolific use of it.

With this, I get the separate, singularly-focused downloads manager window back like before, and all is well in my "Firefox world". ~_^

Actually, while this may LOOK LIKE the old downloads window, it is a far cry from it in terms of of function and useability. For starters, the window does not automatically come up when you start a download -- you have to go through the newfangled system and click on show all downloads for that to happen. Secondly, there is no pause button. That's a pretty major missing piece from the old downloads window, I'd say. Thirdly, it will only show you a maximum of 3 files that are being downloaded.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like and appreciate H2G articles, but this one was not not well researched nor does it list any of the shortcomings of this new extension. In fact, it seems as though H2G endorses it to magically bring back the useability and interface that some of us are now missing, and that simply isn't the case.

I am able to pull up the window the same as before the changes in Firefox 26 via the regular menu system. As for the pause function, that is easily accessible via right clicking the download in question.

I imagine it is a personal preference for a lot of people. For me, when I am downloading various items, all I want to see are my downloads and nothing else. Then I can easily resize the window to occupy a small corner of my screen for easy monitoring.

To me, the new 'unified window' is much like taking a well organised collection of books off of your bookshelves and throwing them into one large messed up heap in the middle of the floor, then declaring that to be a superior system.

I like the various functions/workings to be extremely focused and compartmentalised. When doing downloads, one can focus/look at only downloads. The same with regard to bookmarks. The idea of a 'one size fits all' messy mash-up totally irks my sense of organisation and work flow.

Yeah, you can pull up the window through the menu system, but that is not how it used to work. You'd click to download something and it would automatically pop up, and stay up unless you closed it (sometimes I forget that I am downloading something).

Also, there used to be a pause BUTTON. So saying you can right click to pause a download is not the same -- it's more clicks to do the same action. Also, I did not see this in the add-on, only in the new library window. Again, that's multiple clicks to do a job that used to take one click.

One more difference I forgot to add -- the ability to clear the list of downloads is also not available in this add-on. If you download a lot of files, or even if you are paranoid and have privacy concerns, then it's nice to clear that out.

All I was trying to say is that it seems pointless to have an add-on that LOOKS like an older option, but doesn't have ALL the functionality that the former downloads window had. And when you write an article basically saying this add-on fixes/replaces that, is not telling the whole story.

Um, there is a 'Clear Downloads' button in the lower left corner of the window as with the old version. Since there was only one active download going while I was writing about the extension, the button was greyed out in the screenshot.

View and manage downloads from a tidy status bar – without the download window getting in the way of your web browsing. This is a new life in Firefox 26+ for old well-known add-on Download Statusbar. Here is a little more about this add-on from the developers: Original Download Statusbar add-on for Mozilla Firefox is …

Akemi Iwaya is a devoted Mozilla Firefox user who enjoys working with multiple browsers and occasionally dabbling with Linux. She also loves reading fantasy and sci-fi stories as well as playing "old school" role-playing games. You can visit her on Twitter and Google+.

Published 12/31/13

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